Strong Porter is part of a family of beers where there is considerable crossover between styles, these include Strong Stout and Dry Stout. Distinguishing between these three can be tricky and as such CAMRA usually judges them altogether in the same competition.
Aromas are deep and complex with roasted grains and dried fruit such as raisins and sultanas being particularly noticeable. This continues to the taste where coffee, bitter chocolate and liquorice are often detected. Hops are often present in taste too, surfacing as peppery and spicy note notes rather than floral or citrus as in lighter coloured beers. Expect a long and complex finish, with bitter and spicy hops balancing creamy malt, roast, dark fruit, coffee, chocolate and liquorice.
Colour
Dark brown to black
Clarity
Clear to bright, though the colour of the beer may require it to be back lit to confirm
Carbonation
Low
Alcohol
Can be detected in stronger examples
Hop
Noticeable and adding non-citrus fruitiness
Malt
Present throughout but does not have to be dominant
Esters
None
Phenols
None
Fermentation By-Products
None
Body
Medium to full
Carbonation
Low
Finish Length
Long, can be particularly lingering in some examples
Attenuation
Bitter but can has some residual sweetness
Hops
Mostly UK grown hops are used but ohers can be used to rise above the deluge of malt
Malt
Malt defines stouts and porters, often from heavily roasted barley such as Chocolate Malt and Black Malt
Water
Often 'Burtonised' by larger brewers but town water can be used
Yeast
Ale
Grain - Slate
Elland - 1872 Porter (No Longer Brewed)